We live in a world where 800 million people do not get sufficient food to eat and 1.9 billion people have poor eating choices. People falling under both of these categories are at risk of various diseases. Diet plays an important role in determining the health of our bodies. People who consume excessive amounts of junk food or products high in salt or potassium often suffer from various diseases. Whatever we eat or drink can affect our health.
Kidneys are important organs in human anatomy. They are responsible for filtering out all the toxins and waste from the blood which then flows out of our body in the form of urine. However, having poor food choices can lead to various kidney problems. Polycystic Kidney Disease or PKD is one such kidney disease that troubles many patients worldwide. Although this disease is the result of a genetic disorder, using Polycystic kidney disease treatment in Ayurveda can give relief from this problem without medicines or surgeries.
What Makes PKD a Serious ailment?
Polycystic Kidney Disease is a genetic disorder. Under this condition, clusters of cysts start developing within the outer layers of kidneys. If not controlled, it might also result in kidney failure or other Chronic Kidney Diseases (CKD). Once cysts start forming, they cause kidneys to enlarge and thus lose function over a period of time. Though cysts are not related to cancer, they can damage your kidneys to a greater extent.
Polycystic Kidney Disease is not just limited to the kidney. If not cured in time, it can also develop in the liver and other organs of the body. Once it starts developing all across the body, it can result in severe complications that could be life-threatening as well. This disease affects patients differently. It might be left unnoticed in one patient while become life-threatening in another.
PKD could be of two types. These are:
- Autosomal Dominant Polycystic Kidney Disease: Being a genetic disorder, this disease develops in 30 to 40 years. In this condition, just one parent has a history of PKD.
- Autosomal Recessive Polycystic Kidney Disease: Being a genetic disorder, this disease develops during childbirth. In this condition, both parents have a history of PKD.
Complications Associated with Polycystic Kidney Disease
The symptoms associated with PKD do not occur over a short period of time. However, patients suffering from Polycystic Kidney Disease might suffer from these complications in the long term. The complications are:
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- High Blood Pressure (BP)
High Blood Pressure is one of the most common symptoms of Polycystic Kidney Disease. If this is left unnoticed or not cured within a stipulated period of time, it can further result in severe damage to the kidneys. Not just kidneys, it can also make you prone to heart diseases and sudden strokes.
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- Kidney Not Functioning (Kidney Failure)
Kidneys of patients suffering from this condition gradually lose their ability to function properly. If a kidney stops performing its function, it can result in life-threatening conditions where a patient might have to for dialysis or kidney transplant. However polycystic kidney disease treatment in Ayurveda offers treatment for this disease that does not involve dialysis.
What if kidneys stop functioning?
Kidneys are responsible for carrying out major functions like the removal of waste from our body and filtering out blood with toxins. However, if the kidneys stop working they won’t filter out the blood with excessive nutrients and won’t maintain the water level inside the body. As a result, excessive water and other fluids will start accumulating inside the body resulting in inflammation or severe breathing problems.
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- Severe Pain
Having PKD doesn’t just result in other problems but also gives rise to chronic pain that lasts for hours. Patients suffering from PKD usually experience pain in the back or side of their bodies. This pain can also be related to an infection in the urinary tract.
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- Cysts in the Liver and other body parts
As mentioned above, PKD not just occurs in the kidney; rather it spreads to other parts of the body as well, including the Liver. Both men and women can develop cysts in the liver and other organs. However, it has been noticed that men usually suffer from bigger cysts than women.
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- Brain Aneurysm
Aneurysm in the brain could be life-threatening. It is a condition when a balloon-like bulge or cyst occurs in the blood vessels in the brain. It can result in internal bleeding, also known as brain hemorrhage. People having a history of PKD in their family are at a higher risk of suffering from Brain Aneurysms.
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- Complications during Pregnancy
Pregnant women suffering from PKD can become prone to a serious disease known as Preeclampsia. It results in high blood pressure or kidney failure even before they become pregnant. Hence if a symptom comes under notice, it is better to consult a health expert.
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- Heart Valve Complications
It is reported that out of every four individuals suffering from Polycystic Kidney Disease, one of them develops valve prolapse. It is a condition when the heart valve does not close properly which could throw back the blood backward. It can also result in internal blood that is a life-threatening situation.
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- Complication in Colon
Patients suffering from Polycystic Kidney Disease can develop sacs or pouches in the wall of the colon. It could hamper its functioning and lead to further more complications.
Recommended Diet for Polycystic Kidney Disease Patients
In true words, there is no fixed diet recommended for patients suffering from Polycystic Kidney Disease. Many researchers have tried to reduce the size and formation of cysts with changes in certain diets, but the result was still the same. However, polycystic kidney disease treatment in Ayurveda promises a satisfying recovery from this condition by bringing necessary changes in the lifestyle and dietary habits of the patients.
When a patient suffers from Polycystic Kidney Disease, he usually faces the problem of high blood pressure. Now to get a cure for this problem, Ayurveda experts suggest that keeping the blood pressure in control could be of greater help. High Blood pressure not just makes the condition of PKD worse but also damages the kidney in many ways.
If you prefer to follow the treatment of PKD in Ayurveda, you will be asked to bring the follow these things:
- Coming out from the problem of obesity
- Staying hydrated throughout the day
- Consuming less salt or potassium-rich food
- Exercising regularly
- Limiting the intake of alcohol
- Avoiding smoking
These were some of the most common things that you will be asked to follow. Among points mentioned above, there are two most important things that should be taken care of:
Maintaining healthy Weight
If you are successful in maintaining a healthy weight, it might reduce the risk of problems like high blood pressure or cardiovascular-related issues. The best to maintain your weight is by consulting an Ayurvedic expert who will guide you on what to eat and how much quantity of food you should eat. These are things those food products your Ayurvedic health expert would advise you to consume:
- Less Fried Products
- Vegetables
- Cow Milk
- Desi Ghee
- White Eggs, etc.
What not to eat?
- Deep-fried products
- Processed items
- Packed food items
- Red meat or Fish
- Alcohol
- Tobacco (Smoking), etc.
Following these things would help you to maintain a healthy BMI rate that ranges from 18.5 to 25.
Keep Hydrated
You might have heard that drinking 8 glasses of water a day is necessary. However, that is not a true statement. You should drink a sufficient amount of water that keeps you hydrated. Keeping the body hydrated is very important. Patients suffering from Polycystic Kidney Disease might be losing water from the body.
Hence, it is always advised to drink water whenever you feel your body requires it. These were some of the major points that a PKD patient must make sure to get a cure. However, polycystic kidney disease treatment in Ayurveda not just focuses on making changes in the diet and lifestyle; it also focuses on healing patients from the root level.
This is the reason why medical experts from all over the world have accepted Ayurvedic methods to treat kidney-related problems. You must make sure that bringing changes in the diet should only be according to the healthcare expert.
Disclaimer: The purpose of the content on this page is not to substitute any professional medical advice but to only provide information to the reader. If the reader is a kidney patient, we recommend not making any diet or routine changes without consulting his/her doctor or dietitian. For further advice, you can use this helpline: +91-9871712050 number or visit www.karmaayurvedahealth.com.
